| Philadelphia Saxophone Quartet |
Member Bios
Bill Holcombe, Soprano Saxophone
Bill is a master flutist, prolific on the clarinet and saxophone and is primarily known as an arranger and composer for concert band, symphony orchestra as
well as big bands. Bill majored in composition and musicology at the University of Pennsylvania. Bill later majored in flute performance at Julliard where he
studied with Arthur Lara, the first flute with the Metropolitan Opera and later, principal flute with Toscanni and the NBC Symphony. In the late 1940s Bill was a
reed player and staff arranger for the Tommy Dorsey Band, and later with the legendary arranger Sy Oliver who was staff arranger for Decca Records. As a
Decca staff player, Bill had the opportunity to work with great artists, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Pearl Bailey, the Mills
Brothers, Steve Allen and Artie Shaw, among others. Later he became a staff musician at New York radio station WMGM. In the late fifties and throughout
the sixties, he wrote more than 15 film scores and arranged for the recording orchestra 101 Strings. By the seventies, Bill had become of America's most
published arrangers for concert band and orchestra. During this time he also began his own publishing company, Musicians Publications. He later toured
with Burt Bacharach and played and arranged for Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.
John Bachallis, Alto Saxophone
John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the College of New Jersey, and the Master of Music degree in Applied Saxophone from West
Virginia University. He also studied clarinet, saxophone, music theory and arranging privately for ten years after graduate school. He has over 33 years of
experience teaching instrumental music in the public schools of New Jersey, and as an adjunct teacher at the Lawrenceville School, where he was Director
of the Jazz Ensemble and Instructor of Woodwinds. John plays woodwinds professionally with many classical and pop musical groups for concerts,
theatrical and social events. He has performed with the Delaware Valley, Trenton, Rhode Island, Bridgeton and Allentown Symphonies, in benefits for the
Philadelphia Orchestra and Stamford Symphony, and in the orchestras behind Bob Hope, Carol Chaning, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Al Martino, The
Temptations, Manhattan Transfer, John Popper, Harry James, Bobby Rydel, and many others. He says “it is always a special honor and a pleasure to be
able to perform with the veteran musicians of the Philadelphia Saxophone Quartet. All of them have distinguished themselves in their learning and
achievements within their art, and have proven themselves countless times in front of audiences of all types of music.”
Warren Fioretti, Tenor Saxophone
Warren has earned respect among New Jersey professional musicians, both for his controlled classical playing and his great sight-reading and jazz
improvisation skills. He has performed with the bands of Les Elgart, Buddy Morrow, Nelson Riddle, Rob Stoneback, and Brass Transit, and is currently also
a member of the SaxPlus Saxophone Quartet, the Brookdale College Big Band, the Lakewood Jazz Ensemble, and the Georgian Court College Wind
Ensemble. Warren has recently appeared in the backup bands for Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoyal, Bill Watrous, Jeff Jarvis,
and the Manhattan Transfer. Not to ignore his "left-brained" side, Warren has run a successful consulting business as well, having earned his BS and MS
degrees in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT.
Performance Schedule (Updated 10/1/07)
11/10/07, Rhode Island Symphony, Providence, RI
Bill Holcombe, Soprano Saxophone
Bill is a master flutist, prolific on the clarinet and saxophone and is primarily known as an arranger and composer for concert band, symphony orchestra as
well as big bands. Bill majored in composition and musicology at the University of Pennsylvania. Bill later majored in flute performance at Julliard where he
studied with Arthur Lara, the first flute with the Metropolitan Opera and later, principal flute with Toscanni and the NBC Symphony. In the late 1940s Bill was a
reed player and staff arranger for the Tommy Dorsey Band, and later with the legendary arranger Sy Oliver who was staff arranger for Decca Records. As a
Decca staff player, Bill had the opportunity to work with great artists, including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Sammy Davis, Pearl Bailey, the Mills
Brothers, Steve Allen and Artie Shaw, among others. Later he became a staff musician at New York radio station WMGM. In the late fifties and throughout
the sixties, he wrote more than 15 film scores and arranged for the recording orchestra 101 Strings. By the seventies, Bill had become of America's most
published arrangers for concert band and orchestra. During this time he also began his own publishing company, Musicians Publications. He later toured
with Burt Bacharach and played and arranged for Peter Nero and the Philly Pops.
John Bachallis, Alto Saxophone
John holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music Education from the College of New Jersey, and the Master of Music degree in Applied Saxophone from West
Virginia University. He also studied clarinet, saxophone, music theory and arranging privately for ten years after graduate school. He has over 33 years of
experience teaching instrumental music in the public schools of New Jersey, and as an adjunct teacher at the Lawrenceville School, where he was Director
of the Jazz Ensemble and Instructor of Woodwinds. John plays woodwinds professionally with many classical and pop musical groups for concerts,
theatrical and social events. He has performed with the Delaware Valley, Trenton, Rhode Island, Bridgeton and Allentown Symphonies, in benefits for the
Philadelphia Orchestra and Stamford Symphony, and in the orchestras behind Bob Hope, Carol Chaning, Rita Moreno, Chita Rivera, Al Martino, The
Temptations, Manhattan Transfer, John Popper, Harry James, Bobby Rydel, and many others. He says “it is always a special honor and a pleasure to be
able to perform with the veteran musicians of the Philadelphia Saxophone Quartet. All of them have distinguished themselves in their learning and
achievements within their art, and have proven themselves countless times in front of audiences of all types of music.”
Warren Fioretti, Tenor Saxophone
Warren has earned respect among New Jersey professional musicians, both for his controlled classical playing and his great sight-reading and jazz
improvisation skills. He has performed with the bands of Les Elgart, Buddy Morrow, Nelson Riddle, Rob Stoneback, and Brass Transit, and is currently also
a member of the SaxPlus Saxophone Quartet, the Brookdale College Big Band, the Lakewood Jazz Ensemble, and the Georgian Court College Wind
Ensemble. Warren has recently appeared in the backup bands for Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Bobby Shew, Arturo Sandoyal, Bill Watrous, Jeff Jarvis,
and the Manhattan Transfer. Not to ignore his "left-brained" side, Warren has run a successful consulting business as well, having earned his BS and MS
degrees in Mechanical Engineering from NJIT.
Performance Schedule (Updated 10/1/07)
11/10/07, Rhode Island Symphony, Providence, RI
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| Copyright © 2005 Jerry Nowak. All rights reserved. |
The quartet's original members included Harold Karabell on soprano saxophone, Bill
Holcombe on alto, Norman Wells on tenor, and Jerry Nowak on baritone. The present
lineup includes John Bachallis on alto, Warren Fioretti on tenor, Bill Holcombe on
soprano, and Jerry Nowak on baritone.
The quartet has had an active schedule over the years, performing with many
symphonies throughout the northeastern U.S., including the Trenton, Portland, New
London, Hartford, Springfield, Rhode Island, Buffalo and Kenneth Square symphonies.
They also have frequently performed at public school and college recitals, community
concerts, recording sessions and clinic presentations. The quartets repetoire includes
both classic and jazz music incorporating many different styles and pieces from various
historical periods. The overall characteristic of the performing style of the quartet is pure
expressive phrasing and attention to detail in the style and inflection of the music being
performed. Please page down to see bios of the current members, plus our
performance schedule.
Holcombe on alto, Norman Wells on tenor, and Jerry Nowak on baritone. The present
lineup includes John Bachallis on alto, Warren Fioretti on tenor, Bill Holcombe on
soprano, and Jerry Nowak on baritone.
The quartet has had an active schedule over the years, performing with many
symphonies throughout the northeastern U.S., including the Trenton, Portland, New
London, Hartford, Springfield, Rhode Island, Buffalo and Kenneth Square symphonies.
They also have frequently performed at public school and college recitals, community
concerts, recording sessions and clinic presentations. The quartets repetoire includes
both classic and jazz music incorporating many different styles and pieces from various
historical periods. The overall characteristic of the performing style of the quartet is pure
expressive phrasing and attention to detail in the style and inflection of the music being
performed. Please page down to see bios of the current members, plus our
performance schedule.